I am broken as well. My eyes are red and swollen. My nose is stuffed up. A pile of damp tissue is next to my keyboard. I, most emphatically, do *not* cry pretty.

But that was worth it. Devastating and beautiful, much like William and Elizabeth themselves. I would have felt cheated if you pulled off a deus ex machina in order to end on a "happily ever after". *That* would ring utterly false. Who read the first 20 chapters of this tale thinking it would turn out blue skies and fluttery birds with William and Elizabeth frolicking back in the Bahamas? Not me.

Glad you broke here for the time being. Gives a chance for the de-puffing cream and eye drops a chance to work! Seriously, this has been a captivating and enchanting tale, and I'm so glad you have the artistic integrity to follow your vision, critics be damned. I'm looking forward to wrapping up this tale and moving on to whatever other gems you offer us.


Author's Response: Now I think I'm going to cry from hearing how moved you were by the chapter! Thank you for the reassurance about the ending--this is where the story needed to go even if it was a bit hard going through with it...I can't thank you enough for all of your feedback! It keeps me fueled! : )

oh no............do something......anything

Author's Response: Don't worry! It's not done yet! : )

OMFG I CANT BELIEVE SHE DIED, IM GOING TO CRY, THAT WAS SOOOOOO SAD!! i LOVE this story SOOOOOOOO much and am soooo happy that u updated. i CANT believe she died, wats going to happen to the baby? how is all of it going to work out? please, please, please dont end it with them not being together. i REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope that they end up together in the future and that somehow the babys with them. i have no idea how youre going to play this out but i CANT wait to read how it ends. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE update as soon as u can, im DYING to read wat happens next. THANX SO MUCH!!

Author's Response: Thank you so much for the review Sarah! I'm glad you don't hate me for her death : ) I promise that the story will not end sadly. The epilogue will deal with the future story of Spike and Buffy.

Allright. I loved your story from the beginning and was always elated when you updated. I loved the path it took, and I loved the beautyful lovestory of Elizabeth and William. But I always had this feeling, that it won't lead to hugs and puppys. And yes - of course - I hate that they didn't get their happy ever after, you certainly made everyone who read this story long for them to have it. But even though it makes their love seem greater, more special, larger than life. That's just what drama is about. So I can't blame you, and I can imagine, that it wasn't easy to stay true to your idea, because you just had to fall in love with those two characters and the brave Elizabeth. I think it's great that you did it your way, because that makes original and exciting storys!

Thank you, for letting William get to her before the end. For letting them see each other once again. I can't see how William will ever forgive Giles, even if he did what he did out of love for him (funny how true to character this is, will he later on try to kill Spike to protect Buffy...). I really would like to read William meeting his son and to know how the circle closes.
You did amazing with this story! Lots of love! Zaira

Author's Response: Aw thank you so very much for the kind, uplifting words, Zaira! I'm glad the conclusion wasn't a surprise to you--that you felt the overarcing theme building early on. With the two characters, I tried to portray a love that is greater than anything, even death, and I'm so happy that you understood that message...Thanks for mentioning the parallel of Giles's behavior to his actions in season 7--that's just what I was trying to create here...More of William's story will be revealed before the end : ) Love and hugs right back atcha!

Poor Elizabeth ... so the trial awaits.
*nods* Drowning would prove my innocence Exactly; because one way or another the woman would have died.
I didn't dare to hope that William would save her but he did.
In the end it didn't save her at all, she died. Hopefully at last her child will survive. At last she didn't die alone.
Such a sad chapter. William doesn't have her knowledge of what has been or what will come. Susan is Faith then.
William won't forgive Giles for what he has done I fear. Because of that Elizabeth is dead now.
~ Only some chapters to go? I hope it won't end the way it is now because that would be a sad end too. And not the way I would want it to end. :(
(I love my happy endings; with WIPs you never know what you'll get)

Author's Response: Witch trials were sooo ridiculous. In my research, I found some actual cases where the victim was formally exonerated due to drowning in the trial. lol...In some ways, this was a happy ending for Elizabeth, because seeing William again gave her the peace and strength to let go and accept that she is finished for now...Yep, I did mean to imply that Susan is, at least, part of Faith...The forgiveness issue will definitely be difficult...The ending will be uplifting, I promise! I wouldn't want it to stop here either, because it is a story about hope and second chances, after all.

I admit I'm a sucker for happy endings, but I also believe you must follow your muse where it takes you. The intense drama that played out over these past few chapters has been wonderful, the detail you put into Elizabeth's situation actually made me tear up at times. *sniff* Can't wait to find out what happens next!

Author's Response: I'm defintely a sucker for those happy endings too, which is why I was, at least a teeny bit, longing to do it here. But it just didn't feel right to go in that direction. I'm so happy that you were moved by Elizabeth's story. Thank you for all of your reviews, MidnightGirl, and for sticking with this thing from the beginning! : )

I understand, I don't say I like it but I understand. It was a very good chapter but I always hate sad endings. You did it amazingly well though and thank you for writing this story.

Author's Response: Thank you for understanding and I do appreciate your honesty. What I was trying to communicate here is that ultimately, death is a release for Elizabeth as it will become for Buffy. This isn't the ending though--merely the closing of a chapter in the greater arc of their love story. Thank you so much for reviewing, Nicka!